Abstract: A sampling device and a method for taking samples. The sampling device includes a cap having two ends and a collection sponge attached on one end, wherein a collection sponge diameter is greater than a collection sponge height. A lid is removably attached to a first end of the cap to cover the collection sponge; and a bowl is removably attached to a second and opposite end of the cap. The bowl can contain an enrichment broth.

Abstract: A freezing of gait cue apparatus that provides a visual cue, and a method for providing a visual cue, upon detection of a gait irregularity. The gait irregularity, such as a freeze of gait (FOG) for sufferers of neurological diseases like Parkinson's disease, is determined by a processor in communication with a motion sensor worn by the sufferer. When the gait irregularity is determined the apparatus projects a laser light beam on the ground in front of the user of the apparatus to cue them to continue walking.

Abstract: A collection broth used for recovering microorganisms on a surface is provided. The collection broth includes a buffering system and a neutralization system. All components of the collection broth are both food-grade and hypoallergenic.

Abstract: A heat transfer system includes a fuel cell module that produces heat and water, and a thermal energy storage module that stores the heat produced by the fuel cell module. The thermal energy storage module includes a phase-change material. A conduit couples the fuel cell module to the thermal energy storage module. The conduit is oriented to channel the water produced by the fuel cell module through the thermal energy storage module.

Abstract: A blood filtration method, system, device and media for removing gram negative bacteria from the blood wherein the media includes a substrate coated with mannose optionally in constitution with substrate coated with heparin.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a method of system combination in an audio analytics application including providing a plurality of language identification systems in which each of the language identification systems includes a plurality of probabilities. Each probability is associated with the system's ability to detect a particular language. The method of system combination in the audio analytics application includes receiving data at the language identification systems. The received data is different from data used to train the language identification systems. A confidence measure is determined for each of the language identification systems. The confidence measure identifies which language its system predicts for the received data and combining the language identification systems according to the confidence measures.

Abstract: A gratuity is electronically transferred to at least one gratuity recipient. In the gratuity transfer process, a marker item is read. The marker item contains recipient data that identifies the recipient or recipients. A monetary amount for the gratuity is selected by the person giving the gratuity.

Abstract: Fire mist apparatus and method are provided including a fire mist dispensing head having at least one fluid outlet provided for dispensing a fluid on activation of the same in use. The apparatus further includes illumination capable of emitting light in use.

Abstract: A pipe bursting system and method are described wherein a bursting head pulled by a cable employs a relatively small pneumatic hammer and a relatively large cable tension to impose a cyclical hoop stress on the pipe being burst to cause fatigue failure of the pipe, resulting in lower size and power requirements, and higher efficiency for a given set of job requirements.

Abstract: An adjustable segmental distalization appliance for orthodontic treatments features elongated first and second components that cooperatively define a central body of the appliance spanning longitudinally between an anterior end of the first component and a distal end of the second component. First and second terminal heads are respectively carried at the anterior and distal ends and adapted for attachment to first and second teeth of a dental arch. The first and second components are arranged for selective longitudinal displacement relative to one another to adjust an overall length of the central body to adapt to a patient-specific mesial-distal distance between the first and second teeth of the dental arch. In one embodiment, one component is a tubular female component carrying a ratchet pawl, and the other component is an insertable male component with cooperating ratchet teeth for incremental extension of the central body.

Abstract: An interface mechanism is provided for developers to bundle together a set of extensions (or add-ins) to a productivity suite allowing end users and system administrators to manage their lifecycle in a unified way. Aspects such as discovery, acquisition, authorization deployment, management, updates, and similar ones may be addressed for the bundle as opposed to each of the different extensions (for example extensions for different versions of the same application such as desktop version, web application version, mobile version, etc.). Bundles may also provide a means to match specific functional sets or commercial offerings to specific user or customer profiles.

Abstract: In one form the invention provides a method of modifying a data file for transmission over a data network. The method comprises the steps of receiving the original data file and creating a header file, the header file including the length in bytes of the original data file. At least one repetition byte sequence is identified within the original data file, the repetition byte sequence comprising a byte value that is repeated consecutively within the repetition byte sequence. A modified data file is created by replacing the repetition byte sequence with a repetition marker, the repeated byte value, and a repeat frequency value representing the number of times the repeated byte value occurs within the repetition byte sequence. The repetition marker is added to the header file. The invention further provides a method of transmitting a data file to a remote device over a data network.

Abstract: A modification kit for converting an existing signage mounting structure to an electronic sign generally includes at least one sectional sign assembly including a frame section having a back-facing portion configured to be coupled to the existing signage mounting structure and a front-facing portion including an array of bays, each individual bay having removably mounted therein an LED display module and being prewired with a power routing system; wherein the power routing system includes an input end that branches out to a plurality of output ends, each disposed in one of the bays and each configured to directly couple to one of the LED display modules; a power kit configured to couple the input end of each power routing system to an AC power source; and an installation kit configured to facilitate mounting said back-facing portion to the existing signage mounting structure.

Abstract: A system suitable for reducing static or slow moving echoes from acoustic boundaries in a system such as pipe walls, blood vessels, tissue structures so that an image from flowing or time varying media such as water, oil, blood etc may be imaged more clearly, the system including an analog-to-digital converter for digitizing a received analog signal from a detector, means for digitally separating static or slow moving components of the digital signal, a digital-to-analog converter to provide an analog version of the separated static or slow moving components of the signal, and a subtractor to subtract the analog version of the static or the slow moving components of the signal from an analog signal received from a detector to produce an analog signal corresponding to the remaining flow components of the signal.

Abstract: An orthodontic direct bonding stent facilitates ideal positioning of physical attachments on a patient's teeth. Novel designs of direct bonding stents include uniquely configured windows for guiding placement of the attachments. Windows of reduced depth leave a majority of each attachment exposed beyond the stent for easy grip and manipulation, and use of a reduced height wall opposite the window-equipped wall eases removal of the stent without disruption of the adhered attachments. Use of elastomeric material at the window boundaries provides an improved seal with the tool for less adhesive splay, and inter-arch stents enable maxillary and mandibular placement with a single appliance. Lingual windows enable lingual placement of attachments for reduced visibility, and reduced wall thickness between adjacent windows provides improved mesial access to attachments.

Abstract: TOOL TRACKING A system for determining the location of a toolpiece, wherein: the toolpiece is carried by a tool and the tool comprises an imaging device for capturing images of the environment around the tool; and the system comprises an image processor communicatively coupled to the imaging device for receiving images therefrom and having access to one or more reference images of an expected environment, the image processor being configured to compare an image captured by the imaging device with at least one reference image to identify a match therebetween and to determine in dependence on characteristics of that match the location of the toolpiece.

Abstract: An orthodontic direct bonding stent facilitates ideal positioning of physical attachments on a patient's teeth. Novel designs of direct bonding stents include uniquely configured windows for guiding placement of the attachments. Windows of reduced depth leave a majority of each attachment exposed beyond the stent for easy grip and manipulation, and use of a reduced height wall opposite the window-equipped wall eases removal of the stent without disruption of the adhered attachments. Use of elastomeric material at the window boundaries provides an improved seal with the tool for less adhesive splay, and inter-arch stents enable maxillary and mandibular placement with a single appliance. Lingual windows enable lingual placement of attachments for reduced visibility, and reduced wall thickness between adjacent windows provides improved mesial access to attachments.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for removing a significant amount of bacteria (e.g., gram-negative bacteria and gram-positive bacteria, including bacteria with no or low affinity for heparan sulfate) from whole blood, serum or plasma using an adsorption media. The method can be used in extracorporeal treatments involving high volumetric flow rates and high linear flow rates.

Abstract: A heat transfer system includes a fuel cell module that produces heat and water, and a thermal energy storage module that stores the heat produced by the fuel cell module. The thermal energy storage module includes a phase-change material. A conduit couples the fuel cell module to the thermal energy storage module. The conduit is oriented to channel the water produced by the fuel cell module through the thermal energy storage module.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a method of system combination in an audio analytics application including providing a plurality of language identification systems in which each of the language identification systems includes a plurality of probabilities. Each probability is associated with the system's ability to detect a particular language. The method of system combination in the audio analytics application includes receiving data at the language identification systems. The received data is different from data used to train the language identification systems. A confidence measure is determined for each of the language identification systems. The confidence measure identifies which language its system predicts for the received data and combining the language identification systems according to the confidence measures.